Convertible golf club



Aug. 11, 1925. 1,549,265

T. H. KADEN CONVERTIBLE GOLF CLUB Filed Aug. 5, 1924 ?atented Aug. 11,1925.

mazes THEODORE H. KADEN, OF A'IWOOD, KANSAS.

CONVERTIBLE GOLF CLUB.

Application filed August v 1924:. Serial No. 730,232.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, THEODORE H. KADEN,

a citizen of the. United States, and a resident of Atwood,in the countyof Rawlins, State of Kansas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Convertible Golf Clubs, of which the following is a lspecification.

This invention embodies improvements in adjustable or convertible golfclubs.

The primary object "of'the invention has been to devise a simple anddurably efiective blade-mounting golf club structure that is so formed,of but relatively few parts little liable to get out of order andcomparatively inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, as to provide foraxially rotary graduated adjustments of the blade, whereby its. angulardisposition may be variably alteredtoassist in determining the trajectory or line of flight of the golf ball, which trajectory control is nowcustomarily effected by the employment of a number of accessory orseparate clubs especially designed for each distinctive play, myparticular improvements residing in the novel regulating or controllingmeans for mounting the blade to permit of the facile varying of its saidgraduated adjustments, as the occasions arise, and maintaining theblade-firmly set or rigidly locked when so variably adjusted.

To a large extent the foregoing objects may be accomplished in practicewith a single club as an adjustably assembled unit, including a singleappropriately formed blade capable of functioning plurally in 1substitution for most, if not all, of the variousseparate clubs nowemployed in playing golf, although, 1n so far as my particularimprovements are concerned, any appro- V priateiset of detachableblades,,constructed inaccordance with certain parts of my 1111- i themost part, that is formedof metal, while likewise forming the mountingstherefor of metal, the attachment thereof to the wooden shaft of theclub being made by means of an integral tapering or conical sleeve-likesocket or ferrule-like coupling extension, and for the sake ofsimplicity I am so disclosing the improven'ients in the drawings and thefollowing description, but it is to be understood the outset that suchdisclosure is merely by way of general illustration only, without theintention of imposing any unnecessary restrictions or limitations on myimprovements in the main.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and features, however, aswell as the novelly combined means for attaining the same, will all beso clearly apparent it is believed, as incidental tothe followingdisclosure, that it would serve no useful purpose to further enlargeupon the same initially, and with these general remarks, therefore,reference will now be immediately had to the accompanying drawings,illustrating a practical embodimentof the improvements, in whichdrawings Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the lower portion of agolf club embodying my improvements; Figures 2 and 3 are end elevationalviews of the same, respectively showing the blade in locked and unlockedadjusted positions; and Figure 4 is a front elevational view of theblade as detached from its mountings.

The numeral 5 designates the wooden shaft of the club, with its lowerend portion fitted within a conical sleeve or ferrule-like metal element6, forming an integral extension of a lower jaw 7 which is opposed by ahinged jaw 8, the lower terminal faces of said jaws being spaced apartslightly as indicated at 9.

Where the fe rule construction 6 is employed, although the rigid jaw 7could be a direct continuation of the shaft 5, and where accordingly thejaws 7 and 8 are formed of metal, as preferably is the case, then theadjustable jaw 8 could as a matter of fact be liingedly' joined to theferrule member as a springy integral continuation thereof. As

illustrated, however, and which may be the preferable construction, themovable jaw 8v is swung from or pivotally connected at its upper end tothe ferrule element 6, as by means of a pair of spaced ears 10 on theformer encompassing a tongue 11, formed on the lower forward end of thelatter, or vice versa, with av pivot pin 12 extending transverselythrough said tongue and ears.

The inner opposed faces of thesejaws are of semicircular disposition,and are transversely serrated as respectively indicated at 13 and 1 1,the one face being complementary of the other to form a transverselyserrated opening between the jaws, which opening preferably is slightlyconical to converge or taper inwardly, as is indicated by the dottedlines 15 of Figure 1.

16 designates a strap or band that is secured at one end, as at 17, tothe forward 7 face of the hinged jaw 8, thence extending peripherallyaround the lower faces of both jaws, across the gap 9, andcontiguouslyalong the rear face of the fixed jaw 7, towards the upper portion, ofwhich latter the other end of the strap is attached, as at 18, to asuitable controlling and clamping device, such as the short lever 19pivotally supported as at 20. For neat fitting, the lever 19 may be ofchanneled form and wlth the spaced lower supporting ears thereof seatedflush within recesses formed in the side faces of the fixed jaw. Theband or strap 16 is preferably formed of freely fleX1- ble metal, butwhich will stoutly resist tensile strain, and the clamping lever 19 is,of course, for the purpose of controlling the easing-up on and tauteningof the strap 16, 7' and for securely holdingthe band clamped in itstautened position, as will be clearly evident from Figures 2 and 3.

The front face of the adjustable blade is indicated at 21 and its rearface at 22, the inner end edge face thereof being provided with anaxially projecting short stud 23, preferably formed as a conicallyshaped body, tapering inwardly as indicated at 24:, the peripheralsurface of which is formed with an annular series of longitudinallydisposed teeth or serrations 25, for complemental reception by theregistering recesses of the analogously serrated faces 13 an d 14 of thejaws 7 and 8, when the stud is positioned in place within th transverseopening between the jaws.

.26 designates a short lug, which may be longer than actually shown,that is projected from the forward edge face of the blade, at the innerend edge face thereof, in substantially spaced relation to said serratedstud 23, the objectof said lug being to protect or; guard the forwardlyattached end portion of the strap 16, the lug 26 being positionedimmediately inadvance of said strap end, when the blade is attached tothe jaws, as will be apparent.

Vith the band 16 adjustably encompass, .ing the peripheral faces of thejaws 7. and

8 in relativelyunattached disposition, as a binding strap, from itssecurely .fixed position, 17 to its movably secured position 18,

it follows that the stud 23 of th golf club blade will be rigidlyclamped within the opening between the jaws when the control ling lever19 is operated to the closed clamping position, of Figures 1 and 2, fortautening the band, the interlocking attachment being made the moresecure by the interengaging character of the serrated surfaces 13-14-25and the tapering form of the Also, it may finally be stated thatfanotbervery advantageous feature of the improvements is that, whether a singleblade or an appropriate set of blades be employed for attachment to asingle club shaft, the blade may be detached and the singularity of thedisposition of the arts thus avoided for more convenient an, compactcarrying and packing as luggage.

Although Iliave thus fully. disclosed the improvements, it willnevertheless be understood that I do not necessarily restrict my, selftoall of the detailsexactly as shown and described, excepting as they maycome within th terms of the claims made, or equivalent elements,arr-a-ngements'or combinations thereof, or as fairly interpreted in thelight of the specification if necessary, for

it is obvious that alterationsor additions may be made without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

What I do claim, as new and patentable, 1s:

1. In a convertible golf club, thecombination of a shaft having a lowerjaw, a second jaw hingedly associated therewith, the said jaws havingcomplementally recessed inner faces providing a transverse openingtherebetween, a blade having an endwise axially disposed stud forprojection through said opening, and means for clamping said jaws tosaid stud in varying adjusted positions within said opening. a j j y j2. Ina convertible golf club, the combination of a shaft having a lowerjaw, 21 second jaw hingedly associated therewith, the said jaws havingcomplementally recessed inner faces providing atransverse inwardlytapering opening therebetween, a blade having an endwis axially disposedinwardly tapering stud for projection through said opening, and meansfor clamping said jaws to said stud in varying adjusted positions withinthe said opening.

In a convertible golf club, the combination of a shaft having a lowerjaw, a second jaw hingedly associated therewith, the said jaws havingcomplementally recessed and transversely serrated inner faces providinga transverse opening therebetween, a blade having an endwise axiallydisposed and longitudinally serrated stud for projection through saidopening, and means for clamping said jaws to said stud in varyingadjusted positions within said opening.

4L. In a convertible golf club, the combination of a shaft having alower jaw, a second jaw hingedly associated therewith, the said jawshaving complementally recessed and transversely serrated inner facesproviding a transverse inwardly tapering opening therebetween, a bladehaving an endwise axially disposed and longitudinally serrated inwardlytapering stud for projection through said opening, and means forclamping said jaws to said stud in varying adjusted positions withinsaid opening.

5. In a convertible golf club, the combination of a shaft having a lowerjaw, a second jaw hingedly supported at its upper end in associationtherewith, the said jaws having complementally recessed inner facesproviding a transverse opening therebetween, a blade having an endwiseaxially disposed stud for projection through said opening, clampingcontrol means associated with one of said jaws, and a clamping bandsecured at one end to the other of said jaws, thence extendingperipherally of the lower portions of said jaws, spanning the gaptherebetween, and connected at its other end to said clamping controlmeans.

6. In a convertible golf club, the combination of a shaft having a lowerjaw, a second jaw hingedly supported at its upper end in associationtherewith, the said jaws having complementally recessed inner facesproviding a transverse inwardly tapering opening therebetween, a bladehaving an endwise axially disposed inwardly tapering stud for projectionthrough said opening, clamping control means associated with one of saidjaws, and a clamping band secured at one end to the other of said jaws,thence extending peripherally of the lower portions of said jaws,spanning the gap therebetween, and connected 'at its other end to saidclamping control means.

7. In a convertible golf club, the combination of a shaft having a lowerjaw, a second jaw hingedly supported at its upper end in associationtherewith, the said jaws having complementally recessed and transversely serrated inner faces providing a transverse openingtherebetween, a blade having an endwise axially disposed andlongitudinally serrated stud for projection through said opening,clamping control means associated with one of said jaws, and a clampingband secured at one end to the other of said jaws, thence extendingperipherally of the lower portions of said jaws, spanning the gaptherebetween, and connected at its other end to said clamping controlmeans.

8. In a convertible golf club, the combination of a shaft having a lowerjaw, a second jaw hingedly supported at its upper end in associationtherewith, the said jaws having complementally recessed and transverselyserrated inner faces providing a transverse inwardly tapering openingtherebetween, a blade having an endwise axially disposed andlongitudinally serrated inwardly tapering stud for projection throughsaid opening, clamping control means associated with one of said jaws,and a clamping band secured at one end to the other of said jaws, thenceextending peripherally of the lower portions of said jaws, spanning thegap therebetween, and connected at its other end to said clampingcontrol means.

9. In a convertible golf club, the combination of a shaft having a lowerjaw, a second jaw hingedly supported at its upper end in associationtherewith, the said jaws having complementally recessed suitablysurfaced inner faces providing a transverse opening therebetween, ablade havin an endwise axially disposed suitably surfaced stud forprojection through said opening, the said blade also having a protectingguard lug projected from its forward end edge face in spaced relation tosaid stud, clamping control means associated with one of said jaws, anda clamping band secured at one end to the other of said jaws, thenceextending behind said guard lug peripherally of the lower portions ofsaid jaws, spanning the gap therebetween, and connected at its other endto said clamping control means.

10. As an element unit of a convertible golf club of the characterdisclosed, a ferrule-like member, for attachment to the lower end of theclub shaft, terminating at its lower extremity in a fixed aw, acomplementary opposed jaw hingedly connected at its upper end to saidferrule-like member, the said jaws having complementally recessedsuitably surfaced inner faces providing a transverse openingtherebetween, clamping control means associated with one of said jaws,and a clamping band secured at one end to the other of said jaws, thenceextending peripherally of the lower portions of said jaws, spanning thegap therebetween, and connected at its other end to said clampingcontrol means.

11. As an element unit of a convertible golf club of the characterdisclosed, a ferrule-like member, for attachment to the lower end of theclub shaft, terminating at its lower extremity in a fixed jaw, acomplementary opposed jaw hingedly connected at its upper end to saidferrule-like member, the said jaws having coniplementally recessedsuitably surfaced inner faces provid ing a transverse openingtherebetween; a clamping control lever pivotally associated With saidfixed jaw, and a clamping band 10 secured at one end to said hinged jaw,thence extending peripherally of the lower portions of said jaws,spanning the gap therebetween, and connected at its other end to saidcontrol lever.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

THEODORE H. KADEN.

